Gothic arches and whispers of history surround us here at Chapelle Saint-Erhard. This chapel stands within Strasbourg’s Civil Hospital. Its story weaves through centuries of faith medicine and even anatomical study.
Chapelle Saint-Erhard’s construction began in 1396. It finished in 1428. This brick building showcases Gothic style. Seven buttresses support it. Six ogive windows pierce its walls. Chapelle Saint-Erhard stands attached to the hospital. It miraculously escaped the great fire of November 6 1716. Its exterior remains close to its original state. It bears the name of the hospital’s first chapel.
Imagine this place in 1716. A devastating fire engulfs the hospital. Flames consume everything. Yet Chapelle Saint-Erhard stands firm. Only its polygonal choir sustains damage. This resilience speaks volumes about its construction.
But Chapelle Saint-Erhard’s story takes an interesting turn. It became an anatomical institute from 1670 to 1878. Rows of tiered seating filled the chapel. Students came to learn about the human body. Chapelle Saint-Erhard played a vital role in Strasbourg’s anatomical development. Even after a new anatomical building opened in 1856 Chapelle Saint-Erhard continued to serve. It was used until 1878.
Above the former entrance to the anatomical theater once stood a Latin inscription. It read Theatrum Anatomicum. It also mentioned ornamentation and marble gifted by generous benefactors in 1740.
However Chapelle Saint-Erhard’s purpose shifted again. In 1889 it returned to religious use. It became a Protestant church after serving as a gynecology ward. The interior was remodeled in Neo-Gothic style.
The 20th century brought more changes. Chapelle Saint-Erhard underwent renovations in 1926 1959 and 1972. The 1972 renovation brought a simpler style. A new stained-glass window by Ernest Werlé was installed in 1973. In 1974 a new Gaston Kern organ completed the modernization.
Today Chapelle Saint-Erhard is divided into two stories. In 1934 the first floor became a meeting room. Now it serves as a classroom for hospital management. The exterior shows this division. The chapel’s stained-glass windows are darker than the clear windows above.
Inside Chapelle Saint-Erhard you can find a baroque epitaph. It honors anatomy professor Philippe Henri Boecler who lived from 1718 to 1759. His widow installed the plaque after his death.
Chapelle Saint-Erhard stands as a testament to Strasbourg’s layered history. From its Gothic origins to its anatomical period and its return to religious use this chapel has witnessed centuries of change. Take a moment to appreciate this resilient building. Its walls hold stories of faith science and the enduring spirit of Strasbourg.